Attorneys for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Seek His Release Ahead of Federal Sex Crimes Trial

Sean Combs arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2020. Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP

Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs are requesting the embattled music mogul be released from jail prior to his pending trial.

According to court documents obtained by The Epoch Times, lawyer Alexandra Shapiro filed a bail appeal Oct. 8 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Despite being denied bail twice before, Shapiro is asking the judge to approve a motion for pre-trial release arguing that the reason for his detention was “based on speculation” and violated obligations under the Bail Reform Act.

“This case does involve ‘extreme and unusual circumstances’—but none that typically foreclose bail or warrant forcing Sean Combs to defend himself from a prison cell,” read the filing.

The 54-year-old was arrested Sept. 16 in New York City and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution before entering a not guilty plea.

He was arraigned the following day and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

“What is extreme and unusual about this case is that Mr. Combs was detained immediately after he was charged, even though he has been in the spotlight his entire life, with many of his purported antics and episodes being widely reported in the press and known to law enforcement authorities,” continued the motion.

The Bail Reform Act of 1984 requires that the court consider the least restrictive condition or conditions needed to reasonably assure a defendant’s appearance in court and the safety of others.

“Throughout the bail proceedings ... Mr. Combs rebutted the government’s proffers. But without factfinding or analysis, the district court endorsed the government’s exaggerated rhetoric and ordered Mr. Combs detained. In so doing, the court committed legal error, rejected a plainly sufficient bail package, and violated its obligations under the Bail Reform Act.”

His legal team argues the disgraced rapper is not a flight risk or dangerous and offered to comply with any restrictive conditions that would have prevented such.

“Mr. Combs is presumed innocent. He traveled to New York to surrender because he knew he was going to be indicted. He took extraordinary steps to demonstrate that he intended to face and contest the charges, not flee. He presented a bail package that would plainly stop him from posing a danger to anyone or contacting any witnesses.”

Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky—who originally denied his first bail request—said it would be difficult to monitor Combs’ behavior even with pre-trial monitoring services as sex trafficking is a crime that happens behind closed doors.

After denying his second bail appeal, Judge Andrew L. Carter, said “there is no condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably assure the safety of a person in the community, as well that [Combs] will not obstruct justice or tamper with witnesses.”

The appeal comes one week after his attorneys submitted a notice of intent to appeal on the matter.

In his indictment, Combs is accused of abusing, threatening, and coercing women and others around him to engage in sexual behaviors. This allegedly involved the drugging and recording of victims during staged events described as “Freak Offs.”

Further, the indictment alleges that his criminal behavior involved kidnapping, forced labor, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice, and sex trafficking for at least a decade.

If found guilty, Combs faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

His next court date is set for Oct. 10.